Gradometer.



E'. A. BRADLEY.

GRADOMETER. APYLIOATION FILED FEB.7,1912.

Patented' Dee. 17, 1912 a citizen of the United States, residing atl UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. BRADLEY, 0E WASHINGTON, MISSOURI.-

GRADOMETER.

' i Speeication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 1 7, 1912.

Application led `February 7, 1912. Serial No. 675,978.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. BRADLEY,

Washington, in the county of Franklin and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Gradometer, of which the following is a specification. j

This invention relates-to gradometers, and has for its object to provide an instrument of this character applicable tovehicles, preferably automobiles, and which. shall indicate 4 the inclination or declination of the road'over which the vehicle is traveling, whereby the grade of the road being traversed maybe noted by the occupant or occupants of the vehicle.

A-further object of the present invention p. is to provide a device of this character which 1s simple, inexpensive, durable and substan- 'tial in construction, and which is convenient and eiicient. I

To the above and other ends, this invention is embodied in the combination and f construction of 'parts elicited in the followf ing description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, and wherein- Figure 1 is a4 perspective view of' the iustruinent as applied to the dash. board of a vehicle. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the pendulum and accompanying parts. i

Referring in dctail to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate similar parts, the-numeral 3 designates generallyA the frame of the gradonieter,

' which embodies a .vertical back plate i) which has the respective perforated ea rs 'ttt and ll at the upper and lower ends, segmental sides Atrsecured to the back plate, and au arcuate plate'7 secured to the curved edges nl' the sides 6, the plate 7 having a. longitudinal slot 8 thercinand having degree gi-aduations 2() along the edges of the slot commencing with zero at the central'portion, designated by thenumeral 21,of the arcuate plate and extending upward and downward there from. This frame is preferably constructed of sheet metal of suitable character and gage, the frame being adaptedto be secured to.,

the dashboardQB or any other upright the vehicle by `means of bolts, screws .or

other securing members12 passed through' the ears 10 and 11 to engage the dash board or other upright, whereby the back plate is b rolilight against the dash board or other uprig t.

A plate 13 is secured to the back plate 9 of the frame and has the lower end thereof deflected or bent forwardly to provide a j resilient tongue 14 projecting forwardly and downwardly from the back plate, this tongue having spaced ears 19 at its free end. ,A pin 15 projects transversely through the ears 19 and a weighted pendulum 16 is hung upon the pin 15, whereby the pendulum is pivoted within 'the frame.y To the upper end of the pendulum 16 is secured an arm 17 Vwhich projects at an angle approxi-.

mately 45 degrees therefrom to pass through the slot 8 at the centralportion thereof, this'.

armbeing normally held in a stationaryposltion by the pendulum. A double pointer 18 1s, Secured to and carried by the free end ofthe arm 17 and operates with the gradu` ationsQO, the saidpoiuter being normally held at the zero point ofthe graduations.

In use, the back plate 9 of the frame 5 is secured to the dashboard or other upright of the vehicle, designated by the numeral 23, and when the vehicle is traversing 'a level road, the dash board or other upright will remainxin a vertical position and the ported by the resilient tongue 1,4 relieves the pendulum from jarring or joltingactions as the vehicle traverses rough roads. In this manner, the occupant or occupants of Ythe vehicle may observe the degree or grade of the road being traveled over.

`This instrument is compact.,l simple, 1nexpenslvindui-able and substantial in con- -S5 frame 5- will also be held i'u normal posi-I struction, and in use is both convenient and efficient, forming a. desirable instrument of thisy kind.

Having descril'ieilitlie invention, what is' l. A grad'ometer for vehicles comprising' a frame embodying a back plate adapted tov be secured to an upright, segmental sides secured to he back plate, and un arcuate plate Secured Vto the Curved edgee of the sides and having a longitudinal slof therein and degree gruduutions ng the edge of tho slot eonnneneing will: o lo at the eenl'rnl portion of the plaie a ending upward and downward thereli g e pendulum piu oted in the frame; an in. Secured to the upper end of the pendulum und projecting at unungle of approximately degrees therefrom to through the Central portion of l'he slot and .normally held stationary hy the pendulum;` and ay pointer carried by the free end of Suid arm eoperatingwth the graduutions lo designale the :ingle of inclination or declination of the frame asthe frame is tilted 2. A grudomeer for vehicles comprising e frame embodying a. beek plate adapted to be secured lo un upright, segmenlal Sides secured lo the buck plaie, und un arcuate plate secured to the Curved edges of Athe sides und having a longiludinal slot herein, und degree graduations along the edges of the slot commencing with Zero at the central portion'of l'he plate and extending upward und downward thmefroin; u reeilienl'I longue projecting foru'urdljY und downwardly from the hack pluie of the frame und having' eure proxinmlely @l5 degrees l'here'from lo pues through the. central portion of the Slot und which 1s norniully held sutlonury by the pendulum; und n double pointer carried by.

he .free end of the Said urin eoliperul'ing with the gruduuirme along' 'he edges? ol lLhe slofy to deeignue the :ingle ol" imvliuution or deelinalion of the frame :le lhe. lirznne is tilted.

ln teslin'iouy tha l euii'n 'the ilforegoing as my own` ,l have herein uliiied 'my signature in the presence of two Witne.,

F lixNly AV. BRADLEY.' l/l/'itnesses ll. A. linee, CHAS. el. BRADLm 

